Deal! Is there enough bolt sticking out that we can weld to it? Bring it with you - Natty in the fridge (had to restock from last time you were there).
I haven't decided yet. I took vacation but I may stay home and work on the car. Will you be cooking fajita's??
Another update.... Richard D left me a present at the shop door! Thanks again Richard for the exhaust manifolds! Got the front shock mounts bent. From the old pictures I am pretty sure that these were chromed, but that may have to wait. I decided that I wanted to give the body some support before removing it. Paul Wright had told me I would never get it squared up without the wood in it and I really wanted to soda blast before installing the wood so.... I installed the wood in a temp fashion and Paul was "Wright"! It helped a lot. I started at the rear deck lid and used someone's trick on here with the chain and turnbuckles. It took most of the day to get it square, but Tuffy is L7! The long trip to Texas really took a toll on the body, but I know it's nothing to what some of you deal with. My temp wood. I know it will need more work on the final install but the purpose was for support during the subfloor build. At some point Tuffy drew blood. "Clean up on isle 7"! My daughter said I needed stitches but who has time for that? Somebody has been playing... Truer words never spoken... How did that get there?? Started on the subfloors. I know the metal is whimpy but I am limited and trying to save every inch with the extreme channel so this is what I chose and I will be putting 16 gauge over it and if need be, it will have some beads in it. And a little more done. Had to leave a space for the driveshaft loop, but will come back to this. Next I need to address the trans plate. It is too low, so this is where I stopped. Back to the steel supply place. Man, am I tired. Measure, cut, weld, grind, repeat! I am tired of looking at tape measures. At any rate the body should be ready for soda blasting within the week.
Man that looks awesome, give me a call when you want someone to come by and help. I could use a break from working on all this new crap.
I miss you guys! I really want to go to MoKan but I have so much to pay for this month. College tuition for two, motor, rear end, and soda blasting. I need to make a decision. Louie, I have vacation from 17th - 29th, so you know where I will be! The rear end should be showing up about that time. The engine may be another story - I may end up going and getting it and taking it somewhere else, it is racing season it seems that my rebuild has been pushed down the list Like Bill said, my money is just as green as theirs. It's a shame cause I consider him a good friend.
Thats common with engine builders. I took me 6 months to get mine back Used a local guy who is awesome and known him for years, But they have a tendency to take more care of the people that bring them a motor every year than me bringing him one every 5yrs or more Really dig the 32, coming along great. Nothing more rewarding than seeing something come together. I think I like building them more than driving Alittle cookoo I guess
Yes, they will stay with the car. Ok another update Battery Box - hand made by Paul Wright - think his hamb name is Irishpol. He is in the process of making some bomber seats for me. Got the steering box cleaned up. Cut a bracket out of a 34 frame This is about where it will set. Why did I do it like this - cause that's the way it was. Finished up the floor grid. This is as far as I will go until I get the engine back. I want to make sure the trans tunnel is high enough to get the engine and trans in. Really want the trans tunnel to be graduated, so I used some strings. Then I started trying to figure out where to place some swing pedals. I kept thinking there is not enough room. I finally went and set in my vette. Turns out the vette has 18" foot span versus the 32 will have 17". So I measured everthing including the seat depth to the pedals. I highly recommend this. The 32 felt totally different and comfortable after this. You can barely see where I marked for the clutch/brake on the floor brace. It was getting late and I was tired so I decided to cut the excess off the Wilcap adapter. Which ended up with this left over Which solved this problem I can now whittle out the missing part of the column drop. I need to finish up a little more bracing in the cowl and work on the pedals. Then the body can come off. That's all for now!
Those square tubing bends came out pretty good. I guess you are getting good with the JD2? Is it difficult to control how far it bends with the power unit?
Richard - I only used Louie's brand new bender at the very end. I have never seen one used but I got it figured out. It is really user friendly - I would say go about 5 degrees past the bend you want and your good! I for sure want one! Anyway, I wanted to roll Tuffy out the door to get a good look, before I separate the fame and body. Keep in mind the rear will still come up some and the front end will squat 1 to 1 1/2 " per Bass, with the Hemi. I can still make spring adjustments if I need to, but he is getting close. My Mom said her heart skipped when she came out of her house and saw him (maybe I get it from her as opposed to my Dad). I hope Ron Bettin approves! I realized the I probably haven't posted many of the back, so... I am wondering if the hole in the center was for a pushbar that was tied into the frame?? Maybe Kay can chime in?? Hope you all are not tired of looking at picture of Tuffy!
Damn Kisam it looks great!!! My only concern or question is that perhaps the car was outfitted with a spring in front axle setup because the wheel base looks like it was shorter then what you have right now. Could it be a trick of the eye with perhaps bigger tires up front? Really is looking like the original though and that's just awesome.
Hi Kathy, Its looking sweet. I will have to come over sometime and take another look. On your steering box have you opened it up to take a look at the condition of it. I just took one I had apart that felt perfect and the gear was all chewed up to the point that I will have to replace the worm gear. I've now got a second box that I havent taken apart yet. If I had used the first box it would have failed in use. Alex
Thanks Woog and Rusty! Jeffrey, I have the original tires and they are the same size. It may just be the angle. I added another picture above at a little different angle. Here is the pic from a car show that shows more detail. I am pretty sure it was a spring over. I based this on the shock mount location. Alex, You are always welcome here! I haven't taken it apart yet, but I did buy a rebuild kit. Hopefully the gear is good??
Yeah I am sure my mind was playing trick on me. Once that Hemi's in that'll take up all that space making the wheel base appear shorter too! I love that pic!!!
Your drive to get that coupe going is great. I wish you god speed overcoming obstacles is what makes us strong and sometimes I have to kick my own butt !! You are an inspiration keep up the good work. Take care and have fun !!
The Jalopy Journal
